1. Daniel Day-Lewis
The celebrated actor announced his retirement after The Boxer and even took to Italy as a shoemaker. After seven years since his last project, Daniel Day-Lewis is set to return to the screens through his feature in Anemone.
2. Joe Pesci
The actor decided to retire in 1999 after giving 40 years to Hollywood as he had plans to pursue a music career. But after his retirement, Pesci has starred in The Good Shepherd, Love Ranch, and The Irishman. For the last film, Scorsese reportedly requested Pesci over 50 times, the film also gave Pesci over 30 nominations including the Oscars, BAFTA, and more.
3. Anthony Hopkins
The revered actor has given a string of hits. But in 1998, he expressed a desire to quit acting. Mentioning that he did not feel true to himself as an actor and celebrity. In 2007, he announced retirement for a second time, as he wanted to focus on music. Yet, the actor came back at Kenneth Branagh’s persuasion and portrayed Odin in Thor.
4. Clint Eastwood
The famous Western actor has gained praise as an actor and director over his long career. In the 2000s, Clintwood expressed a desire to retire from acting and focus on directing. His direction of Mystic River was appreciated, which boosted his thoughts. But after directing and starring in Million Dollar Baby, the actor revived his passion for acting and now balances being an actor and director.
5. Leonard Nimoy
The actor did such an impressive job as Spock in Star Trek, that it hindered the kind of roles he would be offered. This prompted Nimoy to take a break from acting in 2012. However, the actor continued to take on voice acting and supporting roles in TV series like Fringe. In 2013, he even returned to portray Spock in Star Trek: Into Darkness.
6. Jamie Lee Curtis
The Halloween actress stated in a 2006 interview that she plans to retire and that "I'm not an actor anymore. I doubt that I will ever do that again”. She also cited her reason for retirement as spending quality time with her family. However, Curtis has subsequently starred in films such as Halloween (2018), Knives Out, and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
7. Sean Connery
The revered actor decided to call it a day when he accepted his AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006. Connery stated that he’s retiring because “idiots are now making films in Hollywood.” Even though there were rumors in 2007 that he would star in an Indiana Jones film, Connery came out of retirement in 2012, when he voiced the character of Sir Billi, in Guardian of the Highlands.
8. Michael J. Fox
The Back to the Future actor decided to take a break when he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 1991. But he came back to voice the lead roles in the Stuart Little films and Atlantis: The Lost Empire. In 2020, Fox described his health struggles in a memoir, which made it difficult to stay in the industry. He also talked about his second retirement.
9. Rick Moranis
After the tragic death of his wife in 1991, Moranis decided to retire and focus on raising his two kids. He has lent his voice in a few animated films but has not featured in a live-action movie. In 2020 though, the actor decided to make a comeback with the movie Shrunk, which is a sequel to the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids franchise.
10. Mara Wilson
The actress found fame in childhood in movies like Mrs. Doubtfire, Matilda, and other shows. But Wilson decided to step away after 2000s Thomas and the Magic Railroad, stating in 2017 that films are tedious and the auditioning is brutal, even feeling relief that she is no longer a part of the industry. However, the actress returned in 2012 and has worked in web series and podcasts.
11. Terence Howard
After the final season of Empire, Terence Howard announced in 2019 that he would be retiring from the industry as he was done living in a world of pretense. Citing “bringing truth to the world” as his next goal. However, whether the actor’s decision to retire was serious or not, remains a mystery, as he has featured in Cut Throat City, and Triumph.
12. Emma Watson
Emma Watson saw a meteoric rise after portraying Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter films. But during an interview in 2010, the actress stated that she might not continue acting after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. However, the actress has continued to star in projects like Beauty and the Beast, Little Women, and others, much to the happiness of her fans.
13. Joaquin Phoenix
Phoenix played a massive trick when he announced his retirement in 2008 and stated that he would pursue a career in hip-hop rap. But rumors started flying when he appeared in a documentary project. When I’m Still Here released in 2010, Phoenix revealed that the documentary is actually a spoof film about studying how much the media would believe. Phoenix has gone on to feature in critically acclaimed movies like Joker, and even winning an Oscar.
14. Robert Redford
After completing the film, The Old Man and the Gun, the renowned star made the decision to retire in 2018. Redford even claimed in an interview that he felt ready to retire after working in Hollywood for a long period. However, he returned in 2019 to reprise his role in Avengers: Endgame and said in an interview that he felt bad about making such a sudden announcement about his retirement.
15. Cameron Diaz
Known for her string of successful movies in the 90s and early 2000s, Cameron Diaz shocked everyone when she decided to stay away in 2014. Announcing her retirement in 2018 during an interview, she stated that she is semi-retired. Even referring to her family as the reason later. But in 2022, she signed to star in Back in Action, which is slated to release in 2025.
16. Shia LaBeouf
Over the years, Shia LaBeouf has made headlines for a variety of reasons, including arrests and public arguments. As a result, the actor announced on Twitter in 2014 that "I am retiring from all public life in light of recent attacks." Although this appeared to be a retirement statement, the actor has gone on to star in additional films, including Pieces of a Woman, The Tax Collector, and The Peanut Butter Falcon.
17. Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss has had a shining career in Hollywood. But the actor decided to retire in the early 2000s after a career of 40 years. The actor revealed that he even went to Oxford to study. But after a gap of four years, the actor featured in Poseidon, Piranha 3D, and more. Dreyfuss said that he came back for financial reasons and because he only knew acting.
18. Ke Huy Quan
In 1998, The Goonies star, Quan, made the decision to take a hiatus from acting after a lean period in Hollywood. However, he made the decision to study film production. But when the actor made a comeback in A24's Everything Everywhere All at Once, people were pleasantly surprised. Quan mentioned that he returned because the script was fascinating and it intrigued him.
19. Jane Fonda
The famous actress decided to retire in 1991, after marrying Ted Turner. But after her divorce, the actress came back to screen in the 2005 movie, Monster in Law. Fonda stated that she believed that should be married forever and therefore chose to retire. The actress has continued to make an appearance in projects like Grace and Frankie, The Newsroom, and more.
20. Kathy Bates
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With roles in over 50 films, including The Blind Side and The Titanic, Bates has had a remarkable Hollywood career. However, she has stated that she would like to retire because it was becoming more difficult to find appropriate roles for ladies her age. She did, however, appear in the 2024 Matlock revival and stated that she would carry on if favorable possibilities continued to present themselves.
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